Qwest Communications International Inc. was formed in 1996 and began by installing all-digital fiber optic infrastructure alongside railway lines. This was intended to provide businesses with high-speed data services.

Headquartered in Denver, the company has since grown quickly and operates as a telecommunications carrier, providing local services to fourteen states mainly in the west of the US.

Qwest has three main business areas: Wireline Services that include phone and internet, Wireless Services in partnership with Verizon Wireless and Other Services that sub-leases company real estate assets. Internet services are supplied to businesses, wholesale customers and consumers.

The company's internet service is available to customers in a range of packages that offer different download speeds. All operate over Qwest's coast to coast fiber optic network and have 24/7 support. Products and services are sold through various channels that include telemarketing, the company's website, third party agents and 98 retail stores.

In July 2000, Qwest paid a $1.5 million fine to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for slamming, an illegal practice where it switched local telephone service users to its long distance service without their permission. It subsequently paid a $350,000 fine to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection for slamming and deceptive advertising. The company has also been accused of various accounting irregularities, with fines in 2001 being followed by charges of insider dealing against its Chief Executive Officer.

In 2008, Qwest Communications issued a joint statement in conjunction with CenturyLink Inc., Frontier Communications Corp and Windstream Corp in support of the National Broadband Plan. This plan highlights the importance of rural broadband and follows the FCC's call for all providers to give priority to rural broadband deployment.

The co-operation with CenturyLink grew even closer in April 2010 when CenturyLink announced it would acquire Qwest in a near merger where CenturyLink shareholders will have 50.5% of the new company and Qwest shareholders will own the rest. The deal quickly earned regulatory approval from several states and by February 2011 required approval from only four states and from the FCC.

Earlier opposition from TW Telecom was dropped on the understanding that the combined company would continue to deliver fair IP peering, wholesale service support and performance reports in the same way as Qwest had done previously. This was in line with an earlier settlement that CenturyLink and Qwest had agreed with Integra Telecom. Comptel has also requested the FCC ensures wholesale and retail customers would see a 'net benefit' from the deal.

Read more on our main Fiber Optic Internet website about this and other internet service providers in Texas.